Port St. Lucie bridge in limbo until 2012

PORT ST. LUCIE - City officials will know by 2012 whether they will get the necessary permits for a possible third bridge over the St. Lucie River.

City engineers and several transportation and environmental agencies have worked out the timetable for a fresh study of the proposed river crossing over the last few months. The bridge would be the final piece of Crosstown Parkway, a 6-mile-long road designed to relieve congestion on Port St. Lucie and Prima Vista boulevards.

City Engineer Walter England said the city will try to speed up the process by working closely with the various state and federal agencies involved in the permitting process. If the bridge finally gains approval, the city would need another three years to design and build it, England said.

"There's been considerable progress made," he said. "But we're not over the hurdle of time yet."

The study process kicks off Thursday with a public meeting at the city's Community Center.

WHAT'S NEW?

&#149; Frustrated with the pace of the permitting process, Mayor Patricia Christensen led a city delegation to Tallahassee in March for a meeting arranged by Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie. Since then, city representatives have been meeting monthly with state and federal officials.

&#149; The Federal Highway Administration wants the city to study six possible routes for the project, including three previously eliminated by a city consultant.

&#149; When the original study began in 2003, Floresta Drive was the western boundary for the project. Since then, federal officials have pushed the boundary farther west to Manth Lane.

THE REST OF CROSSTOWN

&#149; The first stretch of road, between Cashmere and Bayshore boulevards, opened in November. That segment includes a bridge over Florida's Turnpike.

&#149; A segment from Manth Lane to Airoso Boulevard could be ready as soon as Thanksgiving, England said.

&#149; Construction of a new I-95 exit could wrap up by the middle of next year, England added.

CROSSTOWN PARKWAY MEETING

City engineers, consultant Keith and Schnars and the state Department of Transportation are holding the public kickoff meeting on the Crosstown Parkway bridge study. During the meeting, residents will hear a half-hour presentation on the progress of the project, and they can share their thoughts on the bridge.

When: 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday

Where: Community Center, 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd., Port St. Lucie

For more info: Call Walter England at (772) 871-5177 or the project hotline at (772) 871-5176